Raj Babbar Denies ‘Rumour’ of Stepping Down as UP Congress Chief

The speculation arose following the party’s dismal performance in the recently conducted bypolls.

Following speculation in the media, Raj Bhabbar has denied rumours of stepping down as UP Congress chief. The speculation arose against the backdrop of the party's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha bypolls for the Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats.

I don’t know from where this rumour is doing the rounds. In any case, all of us in Congress are party workers, posts and positions are symbolic.

Raj Babbar

The two Lok Sabha seats had fallen vacant after the resignation of UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

On 21 March, Goa Congress chief Shantaram Naik resigned from his post, citing national party president Rahul Gandhi’s call to “make way for younger leaders”.

Previously, in 2017, Babbar had offered to resign after facing criticism for the party’s performance in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.